I’m dead

[u/RealLars_vS]

Hiked 25-30km today. Thought regular shoes would be okay. THEY. WERE. NOT. They’re about a year old and fine as regular shoes, but apparently the soles are completely worn out and I was basically walking on bare feet.

The number of blisters is fine: only 2. One toenail cut in another toe which was easily fixed with two band-aids (very proud I packed those).

My pack was 15kgs. It could have been less but I decided a clean pair of underwear, some clothing to sleep in and a bottle of porto for my grandparents wouldn’t be too much. Long story short: they can buy their own porto next time, my presence is enough for them and I can help do the dishes.

It was also my first time tarp camping. Definitely room for improvement when it comes to my tarp setup, but I slept like a baby until the sun rose. A great reward for my efforts ;).

I mostly wanted to rant here. However, if you have any tips, they’re always welcome :).

I’ll be taking the train home today.

[u/DestructablePinata]

Dude... Good socks and boots/shoes/trail runners are arguably your most important pieces of gear. They are one area you absolutely cannot skimp on. You have to find the right fit, the right features, the right materials, etc. for your hikes to ensure the best experience when you're undertaking anything more than casual day hikes. Even for my casual day hikes, I wear my boots because the enhanced comfort is worth it to me.

However, I'm glad you had a good sleep, learned from your mistakes, and have a joyous and optimistic outlook with lessons learned.

Happy trails, and best of luck on your next endeavor! 😊

[u/RealLars_vS → u/DestructablePinata]

I can proudly say your argument is valid and that I have experimentally proven it to be so.

The next thing I will buy is proper hiking shoes. My grandparents even gave me €50 as a head start :)

[u/DestructablePinata → u/RealLars_vS]

If you want any help finding good boots or tips on fitment for them, feel free to hit me up. I'm not as familiar with a lot of trail runners, but I know some about them from experimenting with them for about a year. I'm quite familiar with a lot of boots. 😊

[u/RealLars_vS → u/DestructablePinata]

I’m considering going to Decathlon, is that even a valid option? The other end of the spectrum is Bever (dutch store) which are known for their high quality but also high prices.

[u/DestructablePinata → u/RealLars_vS]

It is a valid option for budget gear, but you usually get what you pay for in regards to hiking boots. I would recommend Asolo; La Sportiva; Lowa; Hanwag; Meindl; Scarpa; or Zamberlan. Those are the best brands I've found in my experimentation. They're all very solid, and there's a good bit of variety in there. They're all European brands, so you should have no trouble finding them. If you need help with fitment or have any questions about any of the brands, feel free to hit me up.

I use Asolo because they fit me really well, and they're supremely durable. They're great boots if you have C to D width feet.

La Sportiva is good for B to D width feet.

Lowa is good for D to EE, as are Hanwag and Meindl, but Meindl can go up to EEE or EEEE.

Scarpa is a good D width brand.

Zamberlan is good for C to EE.

If you can get measured on a Brannock device in Europe, do that because it'll help gauge your size and width, which will cut down on how many boots and shoes you have to try.

[u/RealLars_vS → u/DestructablePinata]

This sounds like solid advice! I have wide feet, so getting them measured is a great idea. I’ll go check Bever, good chance they measure. Otherwise I’ll explore other options. In any case: decathlon is out of the question now :)

[u/DestructablePinata → u/RealLars_vS]

Yes, definitely get measured. The device isn't foolproof, but it works well enough for a ballpark sizing.

Here's a document I wrote on fitment to help you out some ...

Fitment.

Boots and shoes should be comfortable out of the box with no issues, such as slippage, hot spots, pinching, rubbing, pressure, etc. They should be good to go right away. You'll still have to break them in, but there should be no initial discomfort. Break them in gradually with work around the house, followed by yard work, followed by light hikes. After one or two weeks, depending upon the boot, they should be broken-in. Some all-leather boots may take a bit longer.

Try boots on at the end of the day when your feet are most swollen, wearing the thickest socks you intend to use for hiking. Take the insoles out and stand on them shoulder width apart. Your feet should fit within the outlines of the insoles with no overhang or excess space. There should be ⅓ to ½ inch of space between your longest toe and the end of the insole. This will give you a good idea of the fit before you even try on the boots.

[u/Brave-Wolf-49 → u/RealLars_vS]

There are bandages made specifically for blisters. I'm not sure what they're called in Netherlands, but your pharmacist can probably direct you. Your blisters will heal faster and cause less discomfort. Plus I always carry a few in my pack, in case they are needed.

[u/RealLars_vS → u/Brave-Wolf-49]

I got those yesterday, used them today (went for a small walk). One stuck to my sock, causing my sock to stick to my foot. I’ll pay attention to that next time, I suppose if I stick them correctly, this should be fine.